What happened to Levi Bellfield, the West Drayton 'Bus Stop Killer', after he was jailed

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The name Levi Bellfield still haunts Londoners - and indeed, the entire nation.

Since the serial killer was convicted of the murders of 22-year-old French exchange student Amélie Delagrange in Twickenham, and 19-year-old Marsha McDonnell in Hampton, his name has continued to appear in the media.

Serving three life sentences, he has also been convicted of the murder of 13-year-old schoolgirl Milly Dowler, who disappeared from Station Road in Walton-on-Thames in 2002.

The former nightclub bouncer, dubbed the 'Bus Stop Killer' for his choice of hangout, is thought to be responsible for countless sexual assaults, rapes and murders.

Prowling the streets of West London, the West Drayton-based rapist spent his evenings waiting at bus stops and dark alleyways, stalking girls and young women who passed, and approaching them in his van.

amelia delagrange

If they dared reject his advances he would explode in a fit of violent rage and attack them with hammers or baseball bats.

Fathering 11 children, he had a string of partners and wives, often at the same time. Ex-girlfriend Jo Collings has spoken out since his arrest in 2004, claiming he raped her repeatedly, using her as 'target practice' for his night time ventures.

She once found a bin bag in Bellfield's shed filled with a balaclava, a kitchen knife, and a magazine with the faces of blonde models scratched out.

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Willett was jailed in 2008 for the murder of father of two Balbir Matharu, who challenged the killer as he attempted to steal the radio from his car.

Claiming prison staff should have protected him, Bellfield fought Ministry of Justice lawyers for three years before they were finally forced to admit liability.

The MoJ said it was "hugely disappointed" by the judge's decision to award damages to the murderer.

The Milly Dowler confession

Schoolgirl Milly Dowler was murdered in 2002 (Image: Surrey Police)

In 2016 police reported Bellfield had admitted responsibility for the brutal rape and murder of schoolgirl Milly Dowler for the first time.

Bellfield had refused to give evidence at his trial and repeatedly denied killing the teenager. Her family released details of the confession, which came as a result of police investigations into whether Bellfield had an accomplice.

Milly's family said of the confession: "The effect of this information has been devastating for a family which has already had to endure so much."

In a shocking twist, Bellfield released a statement two days after the alleged confession, claiming he had made no such admission, and challenging the police to prove what he had said.

His solicitor wrote to Surrey Police requesting a tape of the alleged confession. According to Bellfield, he was being formally questioned by police about other murders he was suspected to have committed before the tape recorder was turned off and he was informally asked about Milly Dowler.

DCI Colin Sutton, whose memoirs from the investigation into Bellfield have been used as the basis for ITV's new drama Manhunt starring Martin Clunes, said:"I am almost lost for words on this.

“He has been toying around with the police and also the victims’ families, particularly the Dowlers. It is even beyond the cruel, wicked games that I know he was capable of."

The conversion to Islam

Now calling himself Yusuf Rahim, Bellfield converted whilst in prison. He was one of thousands of prisoners allegedly becoming 'convenience muslims' in order to have access to extended rights and better conditions.

A newly Muslim inmate, Bellfield now has access to better food, more time out of his cell, and is excused from work duties to attend prayer meetings.

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Prison bosses have seen a surge in religious conversions, with the extra free time making it easier for dangerous criminals to form gangs.

Bellfield's letters to pals have been signed from his new name, Yusuf Rahim.

The Daily Star reported that Bellfield had been targeted, alongside fellow serial killer Ian Huntley, by Muslim extremists looking to extend their gang influence over the prison.

The Russell murders 'confession'

Lin, who was brutally murdered, and her daughter Josie Russell (Image: Kent Police/PA)

The team of lawyers working for Michael Stone - who was convicted of killing Lin Russell and her six-year-old daughter Megan, and found guilty of the attempted murder of her second nine-year-old daughter Josie - claimed in 2017 Bellfield had admitted to the murders.

The team said Bellfield had made a detailed confession to a fellow prisoner, describing his encounter with Lin and her daughters, his attack with a hammer, and his motivation for the murders, including details that were not in the public domain.

An eye witness has also come forward with evidence she saw Bellfield near the crime seen shortly after the time of the murders.

Stone has launched two failed appeals since his conviction in 2001.

His imprisonment has become the topic of hot debate, with a panel of forensic experts on a BBC2 documentary claiming no forensic ties had ever connected Stone to the crime scene, and that it is likely there was another man there.

Lin Russell was walking with her her daughters down a quiet street near their home in Chillenden, Kent, on the way home from a swimming competition when they were attacked in 1996. They were tied to a tree, blindfolded, and beaten to death with a hammer.

Despite sustaining horrific injuries, Lin's oldest daughter, Josie, survived the attack. She spent a year learning how to speak again had to have a titanium plate put into her head.

Bellfield has denied both the murders and told the BBC that he didn't make the confession.

The 'Bellfield eats better than most out there' story

Bellfield clawed his way back into the limelight in 2018 after a letter released details of his fine dining behind bars. Bragging to his friend, he told him he 'most likely eats better than most out there.'

Facing prison for the rest of his life, the killer spends his time scoffing rump steak, legs of lamb and roast beef.

Funding the meals himself, his breakfast is a feast of 'Poached eggs, kippers, toast and honey, washed down with a pot of coffee.'

He added details of how he obsessively lines up his belongings, telling the recipient of the letter 'Everything has to be in place neat and tidy.'

When he's not too busy eating, Bellfield entertains himself with his own TV, PlayStation, X-Box and sound system.

The child sex grooming gang allegations

At the end of last year papers exploded with the news of Bellfield's alleged involvement in a paedophile gang which groomed young girls. The gang has reportedly never been brought to justice and some members are still at large.

In December 2017 Debbie Weissang, the former child sexual exploitation manager at Hillingdon Council in Bellfield's home of West London, sent a report to the Met Police which linked Bellfield with six other men accused of rape, paedophilia, and grooming.

While Bellfield has been locked up for good, she expressed 'deep concern' about the potential risk to other children, since the other six will not serve life sentences.

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Weissang claimed the men targeted and groomed underage girls, who were often from children's homes. The paedophile gang is said to have used the date rape drug GHB and assaulted girls in Bellfield's one-bedroom Hanwell flat, making use of a room dubbed the 'raping room' by the predators.

Victor Kelly, who was convicted of exchanging drugs for sex with a 12-year-old, and Suraj Gharu, who was convicted of having sex with a 14-year-old from Hillingdon Council children's home, have both been named as alleged members of the gang.

Detectives involved in the murder cases of Amélie Delagrange and Marsha McDonnell had long suspected that Bellfield was part of a paedophile ring.

ITV drama Manhunt

Scenes of the investigation were recreated as accurately as possible (Image: Neil Genower, Buffalo Picture for ITV)

Levi Bellfield is due to become a household name yet again as ITV has announced its new drama Manhunt, starring Martin Clunes.

The new ITV drama will follow the work of Metropolitan Police detective DCI Colin Sutton (Clunes), who vigilantly pursued Levi Bellfield after he was assigned to Amélie’s case.

Based on Sutton's personal memoirs, the first episode starts with the discovery of Miss Delagrange's body near Twickenham Green.

Bellfield will be played by Celyn Jones, who has previously appeared in television shows such as Shameless and Catastrophe.

The three-part series starts on January 6 at 9pm, with the remaining episodes showing on consecutive nights on January 7 and 8.

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